Salesbook holder



3 1937 G. F. CHRISTENSON 2,102,787

SALESBOOK HOLDER Filed Oct. 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Lin 6? Patented Dec. 21, 1937 SALESBOOK nomien George F. Christensen, Boylston, Mesa, assignor to Joseph A. Dunn, Worcester,

Application mm 2, 1935, Serial No. 43,225 15 Claims. (01. 101--287) The present invention relates to a salesbook holder intended for the automatic interleaving of transfer sheets between the individual salesbook slips on which the sales record is to be made.

Certain large department stores in order to facilitate the identification of charge customers have presented the customer with a plate having in raised characters thereon the customers name and address, and frequently the number of the" customer's account. This plate is used in connection with a press for transferring the identification from the plate to the'sales slips, one example of this machine being disclosed in the Dugdale Patent No. 1,795,480, dated March 10, 1931. In this arrangement, the original sales slip with the one or two carbon copies thereof are positioned beneath a movable roller and above the identification plate. An ink ribbon is interposed between the roller and the sales slip and the movement of the roller presses the ink ribbon against the sales slip and transfers to said slip the raised characters on the identification plate. The prime objection to this arrangement is that the salesbook holder must be positioned in the press and the sales slip must then be manipulated into position in the press. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide for the transfer of identification from a plate to the sales slips by a mechanism incorporated as a part of the salesbook holder.

A large number of store customers, even when provided with an identification plate of the above described character, still neglect to carry it with them for identification. Where the salesbook holder incorporates a recess which receives the identification plate beneath the sales slips, the absence of the identification plate renders writing of the name and address difiicult by reason of the unfilled recess. invention is to provide a means for presenting a smooth writing surface when the identification plate is not positioned therein. The structure by which the smooth writing surface is presented 'may also function for locating the identification plate and for removingxthe-pl'ate from beneath the sales slips after it has been used.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision, in a salesbook holder, of means for preventing the use of unauthorized identifica-l A further object of the present sertion of any plate not corresponding precisely to the proper'shape. In combination with the identification plate and the transfer means by which the characters thereon are duplicated on the sales slips, a further feature of the invention resides in an auxiliary plate having characters thereon which will indicate, for example, theclerk's number, the departmentnumber and the date. junction with the identification plate but is preferably more positively secured to the holder to This plate is preferably located in conprevent itsaccidental. removalwhen the identification plate is removed.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig.1 is a plan view of a holder embodying the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the holder substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the device. a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially along the line 5-5 ofyFlg. 2.

Fig. dis a fragmentary sectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of one form of salesbook strip used in the holder.

Fig. 7a is a modification of the strip of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an identification plate for use in the device.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of apart of the writing plate.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a secondary identificationplate.

Fig. 11 is a section along line l|-H of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a section along line l2--l2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified holder. s

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a printing plate I used in the holder of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a modified form ofasalesbook'holder. Fig. 16 is a sectional view along the line l6--l6 of Fig. 15 on a larger scale.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in and end walls a. A writing plate in is hinged at one end to the box adjacent one end thereof and said plate is normally substantially parallel to the upper edges of the side walls of the box, being supported in this position by depending flanges l l on opposite sides thereof which engage with the bottom of the box. The end of the plate is spaced from the end wall of the box remote from the hinged end of said plate forming a slot 10' to permit continuous strips forming the salesbook to be drawn from the box into overlying relation to the plate.

The salesbook is preferably made up of a plurality of zig-zag folded strips E2 of the type shown in Figs. 7 or 741. In Fig. 7, the salesbook strip has a plurality of transversely extending spaced rows of perforations l3 located between individual sales slips which are adapted to be severed from the strip by tearing along the line of perforations. In forming the complete salesbook for insertion in the holder, two or more strips are placed together, one above the other, and folded, preferably along the transverse perforations, to form a zig-zag pack.

As shown in Fig. 7a, the strip i2 is formed in the same manner as in Fig. '7, except that beneath the space normally provided for entering the individual sales, is provided a second portion ll of the strip on which the customer's name and address is again entered. The portion M of the strip is separable from the remainder of each sales slip, as along a line of perforations l5, and is used, for example, as an identification tag on the goods purchased, to facilitate delivery. The perforations iii are shorter and more widely spaced than the perforations I3 to assure tearing of the sales slip from the salesbook along the perforations l3. A heavy line I6 is printed across the sales slip during the printing thereof, and this line is in predetermined relation to the perforations l5, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The salesbook slips overlie the writing plate and are so positioned that entries can be made thereon when the holder is open. In order that the entries on the uppermost of the sales slips can be duplicated on the underlying slips, carbon sheets I! are supported between the several slips by any suitable arrangement, as for example, by clamping arms I8 extending longitudinally of the writing plate at opposite sides thereof. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5,- the writing plate I0 is provided with notches I9 at opposite side edges for the reception of the arms l8; which latter are preferably supported on the same hinge that supports the writing plate, and the carbon sheets 11 are clamped by turning the side edges of said sheets downwardlyinto the notches l9 and then forcing the arms l8 down to clampthe sheets in position. Obviously, before the carbon sheets are clamped, the ends of the salesbook strips are interleaved with said sheets, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The sales strips as they are advanced over the writing plate are held in close contact therewith by a transversely extending bar 20 which may be integral with the ends of the arms l8, or in certain cases, separate therefrom. When the bar is separate from the arms I B it is preferably positively secured by any suitable means to the writing plate. The ends of the sales strips are further held in position on the upper surface of the writing plate by a spring clip 2| adjacent the hinged end of the plate and engageable with one corner of the sales slip.

The salesbook holder incorporates mechanismfor transferring information from the well-known identification plate provided to mistomers. This identification plate preferably carries information such as the customers name, address and account number, and this is transferred to the the identification thereon in the form of raised characters 23.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 6, the writing plate it has a recess 24 therein corresponding in shape to the identification plate 22. Directly above this recess, and in the cover is located an inking pad 25 positioned in a rectangular cup 26, the outer edges of which correspond substantially to the shape of the identification plate to engage over the outer edges thereof, see Fig. 6. Depending flanges 2! secured within the cover engage with the outer wall of the cup 26 to guide the latter and to allow the latter to move toward or away from the identification plate when the cover is closed. A fiat spring 28 normally urges the cup 26 away from the cover and a screw 29 extending through an opening 30 in the cover engages with the base of the cup 26 to. limit the downward movement of the inking pad. The screw 29 is preferably so adjusted that when the cover is closed the pad engages with the sales slips located above the identification plate with such a pressure as to impart to the sales slips the identification on the plate. As will be apparent, the inking pad reproduces the raised characters on the uppermost sales slips, and the carbon sheets between the several slips reproduces the identification on the remaining slips. The edges of the cup 26 press the slips downwardly at the edges of the plate so that the ink pad comes in contact only with the portions of the uppermost slip which are held raised by the characters on the plate.

The recess 24 in the writing plate is objectionable when a customer forgets to bring in his identification plate, thus requiring the clerk to write in the information normally provided by the plate. The recess may be eliminated when this situation arises by the structure disclosed in Fig. 9. Referring to this figure, a slide 3| is mounted for movement crosswise of the writing plate l0, being guided by ways 32 provided by the plate. The slide 3| preferably has a recess 33 shaped to conform to the outer periphery of the identification plate for the reception of said .plate, and the slide is sufficiently long to permit the entire recess 33 to be located beyond the edge of the writing plate so that the identification plate can be positioned in the recess and the slide then shifted to locate the identification plate beneath the sales slips. Suitable lugs 34 are provided on the underside of the slide at opposite ends thereof to prevent movement of the slide entirely out of the guideways' and also to aid in properly locating the recess 33 beneath the sales slips. When the identification plate is not presented by the customer, the slide is moved to the right to its extreme end and a smooth writing surface over the entire writing plate is then provided. The writing plate is obviously recessed to receive the slide 3|, being preferably provided with a dovetailed guide for positively retaining the slide in position with the upper surface of the slide in the plane of the top of the writing plate.

In large department stores the sales slips require not only the name and address of the customer but also the department number and the number of the clerk making the sale, and such other information as the date of the sale. To avoid the necessity for entryv of these notations by the clerk the slide 3| preferably has a second recess which receives a second identification plate 36 having thereon suitable desired notations which are to be duplicated on successive sales slips, such information being, as above outlined, the clerksnumber, the department number and in certain cases, the date of the sale. This plate 36 is preferably more positively secured to the slide 3|. than is the main identification plate and to this end the writing plate, at opposite ends of the recess, is undercut as at 31 for the reception of the secondary plate, the end of the latter being correspondingly beveled. By this arrangement substitution of one secondary plate for another is possible when the holder is to be used by a differentclerk or in a different department, without the possibility however, of the plate being accidentally removed during the removal of the main identification plate. It will be apparent that the numbers indicating the date on this secondary plate must be replaced daily and this can readily be done by the provision of sets of numerals 38 mounted releasably in small recesses 39 in the plate, these numerals, as best shown in Fig. 11, corresponding in size and shape to the recess provided in the plate. An opening 33' may be provided in the slide to aid in removing the identification plate 22.

Instead of the transfer apparatus disclosed in Figs. 2 and 6, the characters on the plates 22 and 36 may be transferred to the sales slip by a suitable roller supported in the cover of the holder and movable over the identification plate. Referring to Fig. 15, the cover 2" of the holder has a transverse slot 40 located directly over the recess 24" in the writing plate It)". A roller 4| having a strip of transfer material, such as carbon paper 42, wrapped therearound is carried by a fork 43 secured to a bolt 44 which is square in cross-section where it extends through the slot a 40. A knob 45 is positioned on the upper end of the bolt and a spring 46 between said knob and a washer 41 surrounding the bolt just above the I cover normally holds the roller in the upper position shown. A downward pressure on the knob 45 and a subsequent lateral pressure brings the roller into engagement with the sales slip directly above the identification plate and then causes the roller to move over the surface of said plate to transfer the characters from the plate to the sales slips. If desired, a tension coil spring 48 may be positioned between the fork 43 and one side wall of, the cover for normally retaining the roller at one end of the slot. To avoid contact between the transfer material on the roller and thesales slips when the box cover is closed, a small flange 49 extends inwardly from the side wall of the cover in a position directly beneath the roller when the latter is at one end of the slot. In this transfer device flanges 50 on opposite ends of the transfer roller press the slips down at opposite sides of the identification plate to assure contact between the portions of the slip directly above the raised characters and not with the remainder of the plate.

Instead of using an identification plate of the character above described, a plate having reversed characters thereon may be used, in which case the plate is urged downwardly against the sales slips and a transfer ribbon located between the plate and the uppermost slip reproduces the characters from the plate on the slips. As best shown in Fig. 13, a suitable frame 5| is positioned above the writing plate "1" and is preferably hinged on a pin 52 carried by lugs 53 on the writing plate. A strip of transfer material, such as a typewriter ribbon 54, extends transversely across theunderside of the frame 5| and is secured at opposite ends thereof by latches 55 pivoted to the frame. The free end of each latch engages in a notch 56 in the frame for holding the arm and therefore the transfer material in place. The back of the ribbon 54 is preferably protected by' a waterproof flexible material, as for example, cellophane, to prevent the ink on the ribbon from being transferred to the printing or identification plate. A typewriter ribbon having a waterproof backing of this character is well known and the manner in which the waterproof backing is secured to the ribbon is not essential to the present invention.

Directly above thetransfer ribbon the frame is provided with a recess 51, T-shaped in crosssection, to receive a correspondingly shaped identification plate 58, Fig. 14, with raised characters 59 thereon in reversed order. The plate is positioned in the recess with the characters facing the ribbon 54.and a downward movement of the frame pivoting on the pin 52 will bring the ribbon into engagement with the uppermostsales slip on the writing plate. The raised characters on the identification plate press downwardly on the ribbon and the characters on the plate are reproduced in non-reversed order on the sales slip. The frame extends beyond the recess which receives the identification plate and has an integral handle 60 whichpermits the user of the salesbook holder to exert enough pressure to insure printing of the characters on the sales slip. The carbon sheets between the several sales slips on top of the writing plate 10" reproduce the characters from the identification plate on the underneath sales slips.

In order that the printing plates or identification plates which are carried by the customers shall not be used by the customers in stores where they do not have an account, the plate and the recess into which the plate fits are provided with cooperating lugs and notches sothat unless the notches on the plate are properly located the plate will not fit into the recess provided therefor. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the identification plate 22 is provided with notches 64 on two different sides thereof, into which extend corresponding lugs 65 provided by the slide 3| and extending into the recess 33. It will be apparent that unless the notches 64 are located in the same predetermined relation as are the lugs 65, the identification plate cannot be properly positioned in the recess, and the plate cannot accordingly be used with the printing mechanism.

In the use of a salesbook holder of this character it is desirable to identify each holder with the clerk and department where the holder is to be used. To this end, the cover of the box is provided with a substantially rectangular depression 66 having inwardly extending flanges 61 for holding a rectangular card 68 therein. This card may carry the desired information to indicate to whom the box belongs, such as the clerk's name or number and the department number. i

In the majority of salesbook holders there is a provision for a recapitulation cardon which are noted the totals of the individual sales. In the structure disclosed in Fig. 13 this" card 69 may be located within the cbver 2", being held therein by suitable clips-10 at opposite sides thereof.

In certain instances, instead of using the usual card on which the sales are recorded, the cover may hold an envelope M, Fig. 15, on one wall of which is printed the information usually carried by the recapitulation card, and the record slips (one of the carbon copies of each individual sales slip) are placed within the envelope, the latter being open at the end, as indicated. The envelope, with the sales slips therein can be readily removed from the holding action of spring clips i and forwarded to the accounting department without the possibility of losing the record slip.

In the sales slips of the character disclosed in Fig. 7a the information carried by the identification plate is located in two places. When this type of slip is used the frame Si is provided with a central recess 72 adjacent 'to the hinged end thereof. The sales slips, after the first impression has been printed thereon by the identification plate, are then grasped through this recess and drawn forwardly between the edge of the frame and the writing plate until the portion M of the slip is located beneath the identification plate, this location being easily determined by the heavy line it on the sales slip above referred to, since, when the edge of the frame coincides with this line, the portion iii of the slip is in the proper position.

In the use of the structure of Fig. 2 or of Fig. 12 in connection with sales slips of the character shown in Fig. 7a, the cover of the box is provided with a slot '33 adjacent the hinged end thereof and the end of the box coveris cut away, as indicated at it, to permit the sales slips within the box to be grasped by the clerk and to be advanced through said slot while the cover is substantially closed. In this arrangement, as in the arrangement above referred to, the heavy line 5, when in alinementwith the edge of the slot 13, properly locates the sales slips in a position for the second impression thereon. In the modification of Fig. 2, the cover must be raised slightly from its closed position in order to release the slips from the holding action of the cup flanges 26 before the sales slips can be advanced.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the present invention provides a salesbook holder having integral therewith means for reproducing on the sales slips information carried by an identification plate without the necessity for positioning the holder in any supplemental apparatus, and the holder is so arranged as to permit the transfer device to reproduce the impression more than once on each sales slip if so desired.

I claim,

1. The combination with a salesbook holder having a writing plate on which the individual sales slips are successively positioned, and means for locating a printing plate in predetermined relation to said writing plate, of means forming a part of the 'holder for printing on the sales slips the indicia carried by the plate, said last means including a roller located and operative on the side of the sales slip opposite to the printing plate. j

2. The combination with a salesbook holder having a writing plate on which the individual sales slips are successively positioned, and means associated with the writing plate for locating a printing plate on said writing plate in predetermined relation to each sales slip, of means" above the writing plate and on the opposite side of the slips from the locating means for printing on the slips the indicia carried by the plate, said last means forming a part of the salesbook holder.

3. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within the box, and means carried by the writing plate for locating a printing plate in predetermined relation to and beneath the sales slips.

4. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within the box, means carried by the writing plate for locating a printing plate in predetermined relation to and beneath the sales slips, and means for rendering said writing plate smooth when the printing plate is not in use.

5. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within the box, a slide carried by the writing plate and having its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the writing plate and a locating means on said slide to receive the printing plate, said slide being movable to shiftthe slide with the printing plate thereon beneath the sales slips.

6. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within the box, locating means forming a part of the box and positioned beneath the normal position of the sales slips on the writing plate for locating a printing plate thereon, and means on the side of the sales slips opposite to the printing plate for imprinting the characters from said plate onto the slips.

7. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within thebox, locating means forming a part of the box and positioned beneath the normal position of the sales slips on the writing plate for locating a printing plate thereon, means on the side of the sales slips opposite to the print ing plate for imprinting the characters from said plate to the slips, and additional locating means forming part of the box and located in predetermined relation to the writing plate for a second printing plate, said last locating means providing for a releasable attachment of the second printing plate thereto.

8. The combination with a salesbook holder having a writing plate on which the individual sales slips are successively positioned, means for storing a supply of sales slips and means for locating a printing plate having raised characters thereon in predetermined relation to the sales slips on the writing plate, of means forming a part of the holder for printing on the slips the indicia carried" by the plate, said means including a movable roller engageable with the sales slips on the side opposite to that on which the printing plate is located.

9. The combination with a salesbook holder having a writing plate on which the individual sales slips are successively positioned, means for storing a supply of sales slips and means for locating a printing plate having raised characters thereon in predetermined relation to the sales slips on the writing plate, of means forming a part of the holder for printing on the slips the indicia carried by the plate, said means including a movable roller engageable with the sales slips on the side opposite to that on which the printing plate is located, and means associated with the roller for guiding the latter relative to the printing plate.

10. The combination with a salesbook holder comprising a writing plate on which the individual sales slips are successively positioned, a box for holding a supply of sales slips, a cover for the holder, means for locating a printing plate in predetermined relation to the sales slips above the writing plate, and means including an inking device for transferring the characters on the printing plate to the sales slip, said means being pivoted above the writing plate for movement into and out. of operative position and-being positionable within the cover.

.11. In a salesbook holder, the combination 7 with a box having a supply of sales slips therein,

a writing plate over which the individual sales slips from the box are drawn, each sales slip requiring the entry of similar information in two places thereon, and a cover for the box, of means for locating a printing plate carrying said information in predetermined relation to the sales slip, means forming a part of the holder for printing on the sales slips the information car-' ried by the plate, and. means to provide for advance of the sales slips for printing the second impression on the slip without opening the box cover. a

12. In a salsbook holder, the combination with a box, a writing plate mounted thereon in spaced relation to the box bottom to allow for the storage of sales slips in the form of continu- 'sales'slips are drawn, carbon carrying arms poous zig-zag folded strips therein, said box and plate providing an opening at one end of the plate through which the ends of the strips of predetermined relation to the sales slip on the plate, and ink carrying means for reproducing on the topslip the data on the printing plate, the information being reproduced on the under slips by the carbon sheets.

13. In a salesbook holder; thecombination with a box, a writing plate mounted thereon in spaced relation to the box bottom to allow for the storageof sales slips in the form of continuous zig-zag folded strips therein, said box and plate providing an opening at one end of the plate through which the ends of the strips of sales slips are drawn, carbon carrying arms positioned above the writing plate and having carbon sheets carried thereby for interleaving with the ends of the several strips of sales slips, the latter being movable over the writing plate for positioning succes sive slips of the strips in a position for the entry of information thereon, of locating means in predetermined relation to the writing plate for 10- cating a printing plate in predetermined relation to the sales slip on the plate, and ink carrying means for reproducing on the top slip the data on the printing plate, the information being reproduced on the under slips by the carbon sheets,

said locating means and ink carrying means being located on the side of the sales-slips opposite to the writing plate.

14'. In a salesbook holder, the combination with a box, a writing plate mounted thereon in spaced relation to the box bottom to allow for the storage of sales slips in the form of continuous zig-zag folded strips therein, said box and plate providing an opening at one end of the plate through which the ends of the strips of sales slips are drawn, carbon carrying arms positioned above the writing plate and having carbon sheets carried thereby for interleaving with the ends of the several strips of sales slips, the latter being movable over the writing plate for positioning successive slips of the strips ina position for the entry of information thereon, and a cover for the box, of locating means in predetermined relation to the writing plate for locating a printing Plate in predetermined relation to the sales slip on the plate, and ink carrying means for ,reproducingson the top slip the data on the printing plate, the information being reproduced on the under slips by the carbon sheets, said locating means and ink carrying means being positioned above the sales slips on the writing plate and positionable within the box cover.

15. In a salesbook holder, a box in which the salesbook is positioned, a writing plate above said box and over which the sales slips are drawn from within the box, locating means forming a part of the box and positioned in predetermined relation to'the writing plate for locating 'a'plurality of printing platesthereon, said locating means being arranged to provide for separate removal and replacement of each of the printing GEORGE F. 'QHRISTENSON. 

